Buckle



A. PRIMA Dec. 31, 1929.

BUCKLE Filed Dec. 6. 1928 INVEN TOR. drizzr'o Trina BY- I,

ATTORNEY.S

Patented Dec. 31, 1929 ARTURO PRIMA, or FORDSON, MICHIGAN BUCKLE Application filed December 6, 1928.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in buckles and has for its primary object to provide a buckle especially adapted for use as a closing means for boot and shoe uppers and is constructed in a manner to effect rapid, easy and eificient closing means for the upper.

A further object of the invention is to provide abuckle of the above type comprising a normally curved spring backing plate having link connections at its ends with the meeting edges of a boot or shoe upper with the ends of the links attached to the sides of the upper adapted to be moved outwardly of the ends of the links attached to the opposite ends of the spring backing plate with the resiliency of the backing plate restraining the inner ends of the links against inward movement for holding the buckle in upper closing position.

With the above and other objects inv view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed in the annexed specification.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a shoe equipped with the improved buckle, some of the buckles being in closed positions, and other buckles being in open position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan vlew showing spaced sides of a shoe upper with the ends of the spring buckle attached thereto, the buckle being in its open releasing position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the buckle in its closed position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the buckle and shoe upper in open position, showing the linked connections between the arched spring backing plate of the buckle, and the opposite sides of the shoe upper;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the buckle in closed position; and

Serial No. 324,168.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle and adjacent parts of the shoe upper taken on line 6-6 of Figure 8.

teferring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a shoe 1 in which the upper 2 has side edges 3 and to which edges the ends of the buckle are attached.

The buckle comprises a metallic arched spring plate 4, rolled at opposite ends thereof at 5 to provide a bearing for the adjacent cross-bar of a rectangular link 6. The opposite cross bar of the rectangular link 6 is plV: otally attached to a plate which in turn is secured to an adjacent side edge 3 of the shoe upper 2. The plate 7 is preferably formed of sheet metal with an intermediate transverse groove or channel in which a cross bar of the link 6 is pivotally mounted, the plate 7 being secured to the side edges 3 of the shoe upper by rivets 9 or other fastening devices.

\Vhen the meeting edges 3 of the shoe upper are separated as shown in Figure 4, the links 6 with the sides thereof attached to the spring plate 4 are moved outwardly of the shoe upper while the points of connections between the links and attaching plates 7 are widely separated. The edges 3 of the shoe upper may be moved apart a greater distance and illustrated in Figure 4 if desired. When the shoe has been placed on the foot, the meeting edges of the upper are moved toward each other and as the attaching plates 7 approach each other, the points of connection between the links 6 and spring plate 4 move toward the shoe upper with the attaching points 8 ultimately moving outwardly of the attaching points 5, the spring plate 4 overlying the links and attaching plates and due to its arched formation, the offset relationship of the pivoted points of the opposite sides of the rectangular links for holding the shoe upper in closed position are retained as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. To release the buckle, it is only necessary to engage opposite ends of the spring plate 4 for movement in a direction outward ly of the shoe upper and at which time the meeting edges 3 of the shoe upper will be separated and occupy positions shown in Figures 2 and 4 to pemit removal of the shoe. The

buckle is of extremely simple construction and is easily operable and is Wholly efiicient for retaining the shoe upper in securely closed position.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

In a device of the character described, a buckle comprising a )air of similar plates of rectangular form a apted to be riveted at their inner and outer edges to a shoe upper at opposite sides of an opening, each plate being formed with an intermediate struck up channel to form a pivotal bearing, a pair of rectangular links pivotally attached to said plates in said bearings, and an arched spring connecting plate pivotallv attached to the outer ends of said links and co-operating therewith.

I In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ARTURO PRIMA. 

